Bradford, A. S., House
Also known as: The Bradford House
Why it's listed
Built in 1902 for citrus grower A. S. Bradford, this fifteen-room Colonial Revival house at 136 Palm Circle in Placentia sits on its original two and a half acre site, where part of the original orange grove remains. James Stafford drew the plans, construction ran from July to December 1902, and the cost was about $8,000. Features include a wide front veranda with simple columns, ornamental door overhangs, a projecting bay on the east side, and shingled upper walls. Bradford, a New England horticulturist, arrived in 1890, planted oranges and opened a citrus nursery. He later helped bring the railroad through, platted the townsite of Placentia, organized banks and a water company, and led civic groups, earning recognition as the town's founder. His heirs deeded the house and land to the city in 1973. A fire in September 1977 destroyed the roof, and restoration was underway when the property was nominated, with interiors planned for a 1902-30 look and the grounds kept as a passive park.
Significance in brief: The house is the home of Albert Sumner Bradford, founder of Placentia, a citrus grower and community leader. It is also considered a good example of a turn-of-the-century Colonial Revival rural ranch home, derived from Queen Anne styling, with possible Shingle style influence.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000730, listed October 3, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 136 Palm Circle, Placentia |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | October 3, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000730 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902 |
| Architect / builder | James Stafford |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival (derivative of Queen Anne, with possible Shingle style influence) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Damaged by fire in September 1977; under reconstruction and restoration by the City of Placentia at the time of nomination, with use as a park and community facility anticipated. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 33.88838, -117.86451 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000730.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4648361
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.